Adjustable handlebars

ABSTRACT

Adjustable handlebars comprising a central, main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of the main body portion, a device for connecting each hand-grip portion to the main body portion for movement from a high-speed running position to a low-speed resting position, and a manually-operable lock associated with each connecting device and arranged securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions. The connecting devices may preferably provide for pivotal movement of the hand-grip portions from lower positions to higher positions, the lower positions being the running positions and the higher positions being the resting positions.

Unite States Patent [191 Gatsos et al. g

1 1 Feb. 4,1975

[ ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBARS [75] Inventors: Stephen L. Gatsos; Roy F.

Abercrombie; Charles R. Ford, all of Indianapolis, Ind.

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.191,988, Oct. 26,

1971, abandoned.

[52] U.S. .Cl. 74/551.4, 280/278 [51] Int. Cl B62k 21/16 [58] Field ofSearch 74/5513, 551.4, 551.5,

12/1969 Yoshikaw 74/5514 X 4/1970 Stone 74/551.4

3,795,379 3/1974 Gray 403/99 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,400,3844/1965 France 403/103 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Attorney, Agent,or Firm-William. R. Coffey [57] ABSTRACT Adjustable handlebarscomprising a central, main body portion, hand-grip portions respectivelyat opposite sides of the main body portion, a device for connecting eachhand-grip portion to the main body portion for movement from ahigh-speed running position to a low-speed resting position, and amanuallyoperable lock associated with each connecting device andarranged securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternativelyin its running and resting positions. The connecting devices maypreferably provide for pivotal movement of the handl-grip portions fromlower positions to higher positions, the lower positions being therunning positions and the higher positions being the resting positions.

16 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 41975 SHEET 2 [IF 2ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBARS This is a continuation-in-part of copendingapplication Ser. No. 191,988 filed Oct. 26, 1971, now abandoned, forAdjustable Handlebars.

Bicycling has always been a highly accepted form of transportation,recreation and exercise. In the past few years, sales of bicycles haveincreased and more and more people, including adults, are ridingbicycles as a form of recreation and exercise. The advantages of bicycleriding are well known.

More and more people are now turning to high performance bicycles ofthetype having multi-speed transmissions, narrow wheels, and racinghandlebars. For. reasons well known, such racing handlebars are conventionally arranged to cause the rider to bend over and lean forwardlywith his arms extending downwardly. This position provides for greaterdriving power from the rider's legs. However, long sustained periods ofriding in this highly efficient position is very tiring.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provideadjustable handlebars which will permit the rider easily and manually,while riding, to shift the gripportions of the handlbars from theirlower, high-speed running positions to their upper, relaxing positions.

Others have provided handlebars which may be adjusted with tools, forinstance, to fit a particular rider.

Representative United States patents showing such devices are Nos.540,879 issued in June, 1895; 578,180 issued in March, 1897; 611,668issued in October, 1898; 613,014 issued in October, 1898; 3,481,218issued in December, 1969; and 3,505,901 issued in 9 April, 1970.

The adjustable handlebars of the present invention constitute asignificant improvement over such prior art handlebars for severalreasons, the primary reason being that they are easily shifted betweentheir highspeed running positions and their low-speed resting positionswhile riding. The handlebars bars of the present invention are extremelysafe because they include locking means arranged securely to hold thehand-grip portions alternatively in their high-speed running positionsand their low-speed resting positions. Yet, in accordance with thepresent invention, this locking means is constructed so that a rider caneasily manually release each hand-grip portion for movement from one ofits positions to the other of its positions. One illustrative lockingmeans includes a locking member which is urged by a spring into itslocking position and which may be moved by finger or thumb pressureagainst the urging of the spring to its releasing position. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the locking member, which is spring urged toits locking position, is moved to its releasing position by twisting theassociated hand-grip on the handlebars. Another illustrative embodimentis such that the locking member is moved from its locking position toits releasing position by pulling the associated hand-grip portion towhich the member is connected a short distance away from the centralmain body portion of the handlebars. In this last-mentioned embodiment,the hand-grip portions are shifted from their lower positions to theirhigher positions by pulling the hand-grip portions outwardly, pivotingthem upwardly about their pivot axes, and then moving them downwardly tobe locked in their upper positions.

The capability of being able to adjust the positions of the hand-gripportions whlie riding is extremely advantageous, especially when ridingin groups or in crosscountry races. The ability to shift to and from theforwardly leaning running position every few minutes is extremelyimportant for purposes of resting the riders back. In cross-countryriding, using the handlebars of the present invention, a rider caneasily and quickly shift to a comfortable resting position for coastingdown hill.

Another advantage of the handlebars of the present invention is that thehand-grip portions are preferably connected for pivotal movement betweentheir lower positions and their upper positions about axes extendinggenerally horizontally and in the direction in which the bicycle ismoving. In one embodiment. each connecting means providing this pivotalmovement includes cooperating connector members having generallyconcentric circular flat faces engaged together to provide adequatebearing surfaces and through which concentrically extends a fasteningelement defining the pivot axis for the connecting means. In anotherembodiment, the connecting means providing this pivotal movementincludes a sleeve'like member having diametrically opposed elongatedslots in its end, a second member telescopically received in thesleeve-like member to be movable between an outer position in which itcan be tilted upwardly to extend through said slots and an innerposition in which it extends parallel to said sleeve-like member.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentas this description progresses.

To accomplishment ofthe above and related objects, the present inventionmay be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view showing a bicycle and a rider in runningposition in solid lines and in resting position in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a view of the handlebars of the present invention looking fromthe front of the handlebars and showing, in solid lines, one hand'gripportion in its lower position and the other hand-grip portion in itsupper position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view showing one illustrative connectingmeans and locking means;

of the connecting means of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another connecting meansand locking means;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. Sandlooking forwardly in the direction of movement of the bicycle;

FIG. 7 is another fragmentary sectional view showing still anotherconnecting means and locking means;

FIG. 8 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention lookingfrom the front of the handlebars;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the hand-grip portion of thehandlebars of FIG. 8 in their upper positions;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from FIG. 8 generallyalong the line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pivotal connection meansof the handlebars of FIG. 8 taken along a plane perpendicular to thepivot axis; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the same plane asFlG. 11 except showing the handgrip portion pivoted upwardly.

Turning now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1 it will be seen thatthere is illustrated a bicycle indicated generally by the referencenumeral including a conventional frame 12, front wheel 14 and back wheel16 with conventional handlebars 18. The rider is illustrated in twopositions. In solid lines, the rider is shown leaning forwardly with hisarms extending downwardly to grip the generally downwardly extendinghand-grip portions of the handlebars 18. In this position, the rider isbetter able to apply driving power to the pedals of the bicycle. Inorder to stop the bicycle, the rider may actuate the conventionallylocated hand levers 20. The levers, of course, are pivotally connectedto the hand-grip portions just above the usual rubber grips so that therider may apply the brakes without removing his hands from the grips.

With such conventional handlebars, the rider may straighten his backsome by gripping the handlebars at their main body portions right nextto the conventional gooseneck clamp. While this will permit the rider tostraighten up some to rest his back, it will not permit him tostraighten up too much and it is not very safe because the riders handsare away from the brake actuating levers 20.

Turning now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the handlebars of thepresent invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30,include a central, generally horizontally extending main body portion 32provided with the usual, slightly enlarged and knurled portion 34. Thehandlebars 30 are connected to the bicycle by tightening the usualgooseneck clamp of the bicycle about the portion 34.

At each end of the main body portion 32 is a handgrip portion 36. ltwill be appreciated that the illustrative handlebars 30 are symmetricaland that the handgrip portions 36 are allochirally related. A brakeactuator lever 38 is connected to each hand-grip portion 36 by meanssuch as the illustrated clamp 40 to be adjacent the conventionalrubberlike hand-grip indicated at 41. In some cases, such rubberhand-grips are not used and the handlebars are wrapped with a tape whichis ideal for gripping. Thus, the brake actuator levers 38 move with thehand-grip portions 36 always to be easily accessible to the rider. Thisis an important feature of the present invention.

Means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 42, are provided forconnecting the hand-grip portions 36 respectively to the opposite endsof the main body portion 32. These connecting means 42 preferablyprovide for pivotal movement of their associated hand-grip portions 36between their illustrated lower positions to their illustrated upperpositions.

Each hand-grip portion 36 includes a portion 46 extending straight outfrom the connecting means 42, a portion 48 which is curved forwardlyfrom the portion 46 and then rearwardly, and a generally straightportion 50 which extends rearwardly and slightly outwardly. The grips 41are mounted on the distal ends of these straight portions 50. When bothhand-grip portions 36 are in their lower positions, the handlebars 30 ofthe present invention have the same general appearance as theconventional handlebars 18, the primary difference being the appearanceof the connecting means 42.

When both hand-grip portions 36 are in their upper positions, the riderof the bicycle can be in the position shown in dashed lines of FIG. 1.It will be appreceated that this is a much more comfortable position andthat the brake actuator levers 38 are close to the rider's hands.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, one illustrative connecting means 42 willbe discussed. The connecting means 42 includes a first connector member56 rigidly connected to the main body portion 32 by a fastening element58 and a second connector member 60 rigidly connected to the hand-gripportion 36 by a fastening element 62. Both illustrative connectormembers 56. 60 have reduced shank portions which extend. respectively,into the tubular portions 32, 46 to provide a neat, smooth appearance.One or both of the illustrated fastening elements 58, 62 may be of thetype that can be easily removed to facilitate installation of thehandlebars 30 on a bicycle. This may be advisable because the connectingmeans 42 may be larger in diameter than the span of the conventionalgooseneck clamp.

The connector member 56 is formed to provide a flat face 64 defining aplane which includes the axis of the tubular main body portion 32. Theother connector member 60 is formed to provide a mating flat face 66.Then, the two connector members 56, 60 are provided with registeringbores 68, the coinciding axes of which are perpendicular to the flatfaces 64, 66 and perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the mainbody portion 32. The connector member 56 is counterbored as indicated at72 to receive the head 74 of a bolt 76 which extends through the bore 68to be threaded into the bore 70. The bolt 76, therefore, defines theaxis about which the connector member 60 pivots relative to theconnector member 56. The flat surface 64, 66 are generally circularlyshaped and adjacent portions of the connector members 56, 60 aregenerally spherically shaped so that the appearance of the illustrativeconnector means 42 is generally spherical. lllustratively, the flatsurfaces 64, 66 may have a diameter of l /2 inches so that the twomating surfaces provide a relatively large bearing surface, the purposeof which is to confine the connector member 60 to smooth pivotalmovement about the axis of the bolt 76. When the bolt 76 is tightenedand the two surfaces 64, 66 are pulled into mating engagement, theresulting pivot joint is extremely stable and will not permit thehand-grip portion 36 to shake or rattle relative to the main bodyportion 32.

ln order to lock the connecting means 42 in a selected position, lockingmeans including a locking member 84 (FIG. 4) is provided. Theillustrative locking member 84 is formed with a bearing surface 86engaging the fastening element 62 so that the member 84 can pivot aboutthe axis of the fastening element 62 in an axially extending slot 88formed in the connector member 60. A spring 90 is disposed as shown inFIG. 4 to urge the locking member 84 outwardly to its locking position.The locking member 84 includes a finger piece 92 which extends outwardlytoward the rider of the bicycle and the locking portion 94.

the locking member 56 is provided with a pair of notches 96, 98peripherally spaced apart about the axis of the bolt 76 to be engaged bythe locking portion 94. The spring 90 urges the locking portion 94 intoengagement with either the notch 96 or the notch 98. As illustrated inFIG. 4, when the locking member 84 is in its locking position, itslocking portion 94 spans the plane defined by the mating faces 64, 66 toprevent pivotal movement of the connector member 60 relative to theconnector member 56. The sides of the slot 88 are such that the lockingmember 84 can only move toward and away from the bottom of the slot. Thenotches 96, 98 are proportioned and designed snugly to receive thelocking portion 94 so that the hand-gripportion 36 will be securelylocked either in its lower position or upper position. The two notches96, 98 are illustratively approximately 90 apart so that the hand-gripportion 36 moves approximately 90 from its lower position to its upperposition.

Preferably, the handlebars 30 will be placed on the bicycle such thatthe pivot axes for the connector means 42 will extend generallyhorizontally and forwardly in the direction of movement of the bicycle.This means that the planes defined by the mating faces 64, 66 will begenerally vertically and perpendicular to the direction of movement ofthe bicycle.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the presentinvention will be discussed. In this embodiment, the connector members56, 60 have generally the same configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4 with the exception that they are proportioned and designed to utilizeanother type of locking means. The bore 70 in the connector member 60 iselongated so that the connector member 60 can move laterally as well aspivotally relative to the axis of the bolt 76. Then, the connectormember 60' is formed to provide a locking portion 102 whichalternatively engages peripherally spaced apart notches 104, 106 formedin the member 56. As shown in FIG. 6, in order to move the lockingportion 102 from the notch106 to the notch 104, the connector member 60is moved first in the direction of the arrow 108 to disengage theportion 102 from the notch 106 and then pivotally in the direction ofthe arrow 110 to engage the portion 102 with the notch 104. Since thesectional view of FIG. 6 is taken looking forwardly from the bicycle,the notch 104 defines the upper position of the hand-grip portion whilethe notch 106 defines the lower position of the handgrip portion.

The locking portion 102 is urged into its locking position by means of aspring 107 disposed in an opening 1070. When a rider desires to shiftthe position of the handgrip portion, he merely pulls it away from thebolt 76 and then pivots it from its position to its alternate position.

Turning now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of locking means andconnecting means will be discussed, this embodiment including a lockingmember 114 carried for reciprocation in an opening 116 in the connectormember 60 with a spring 118 disposed in that opening and urging thelocking member 114 to its projected locking position engaging either thenotch 104 or notch 106 in the connector member 56. A cable 120 isconnected to the locking member 114 and extends through the tubularhand-grip portion 36 so that its opposite end is connected to theinwardly extending portion 124 of the hand-grip 41. An illustrative.cable connection is indicated at 126. The end of the tubular portion 50is formed with a cam surface 128 and the grip 41 is formed to provide aprotrusion 130 which rides on the cam surface. The cam surface 128 isproportioned and designed such that when the grip 41 is rotated aboutthe portion 50, the grip moves axially outwardly to pull on the cable tomove the locking member 114 to its releasing position. The locking meansof the embodiment of FIG. 7 is, therefore, released by the ridertwisting the hand-grip 41.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-12, another embodiment of the present inventionwill be discussed, this embodiment being indicated generally by thereference numeral 140. The embodiment includes a central, main bodyportion 142 knurled as indicated at 144 as discussed previously.Hand-grip portions 146, 148 are disposed respectively at opposite sidesof the main body portion 142. Means. indicated generally by referencenumerals 150, 152 are provided for respectively connecting the hand-gripportions 146, 140 to the main body portion 142 for generally rectilinearshifting movement relative to the main body portion between inner andouter positions and for pivotal movement relative to the main bodyportion between lower positions and upper positions. The connectingmeans 150, 152 are proportioned and designed, as described hereinafter,such that the said pivotal movement can occur only when the hand-gripportions have been shifted outwardly or away from the main body portion142.

In the illustrative embodiment, the main body portion 142 issleeve-like, and provides, at each of its ends, sleevelike portions 154,the walls of which are flattened in generally vertical planes asillustrated. A fastening element, such as the illustrated rivet 156,extends through each portion 154 to provide a pivotal connection meansas will be more fully described hereinafter. In the illustrativeembodiment, the: rivets 156 also serve to fasten together the two halvesof the main body portion 142.

In the illustrative embodiment 140, a connector member 158 is fixed toeach hand-grip portion 146, 148 by means of a fastening element, such asthe illustrated rivet 160. In accordance with the discussion above, eachend of the main body portion 142 may be considered the said firstconnector member while the connector member 158 may be considered thesaid second connector member.

Each connector member 158 is formed to provide a distal portion 162having a cross-sectional shape such that it will telescopically fit intothe adjacent sleeve-like portion 154 of the main body portion 142. Thisdistal portion 162 is formed with axially elongated slots 164 in itsvertical side walls, through which slots the rivet 156 extends. Thediameter of the rivet 156 is substantially equal to the width of theslots 164. Thus, each connector member 158 can reciprocate or shiftrectilinearly in its associated sleeve-like portion 154 from an innerposition to an outer position. The extent of this shifting movement isdetermined by the length of the slots 164. The inner position,illustrated in FIG. 10, is also defined by the rivet 156 being againstthe righthand ends of the slots I64, and the outer position is definedby the rivet 156 being against the left-hand end of the slots.

Each sleeve-like portion 154 is provided with an axially inwardlyextending upper slot 166 and an axially inwardly extending lower slot168. These two slots 166,

168 are diametrically opposed, and the width of the slots is such thatthe slots will receive the distal portion 162. As shown, the distalportion 162 of each connector member 158 is formed with parallel,vertically extending sides, and these sides engage respectively theaxially extending side edges of the slots 166, 168 when the hand-gripportions 146, 148 are in their upper positions. The axially inner end ofeach slot 168 is disposed such that, when the associated connectormember 158 is in its outer position, the axially inner end of theconnector member outwardly from the axially inner end of the slot. Thisis why the connector member can pivot upwardly to its position shown inFIG. 9 when it is in its outer position. As shown in FIG. 11, when theconnector member 158 is in its inner position, the axially inner end ofthe connector member is inwardly from the axially inner end of the lowerslot 168 to prevent any pivotal movement about the axis of the rivet156.

The hand-grip portions 146, 148 are moved from their lower positions totheir upper positions, therefore, by pulling outwardly on the hand-gripportions and then pivoting them upwardly about the axes of the rivets156. Once a connector member 158 is in its upper position, it can bemoved in the direction of its slots 164 downwardly to the position shownin FIG. 9, i.e., a position such that the connector member 158 isresting against the axially inner ends of the slots 166, 168.

Each connecting means 150, 152 is stable in either of its positions. Aconnector member 158 is stable it its upper position since its slots 164are of a width not significantly greater than the diameter ofthe rivet156 extending therethrough and since the connector member isconformingly disposed in the slots 166, 168 and against'the axiallyinner ends thereof. In its inner position as shown in FIG. 10, theconnector member is stable because its distal portion 162 isconformingly received in the sleeve-like portion 154.

A locking member 176 is provided for locking each hand-grip portion 146,148 in its lower or upper position. The illustrative locking member 176,which includes a fingerengaging portion 178, is pivotal about the axisof the rivet 156. In other words, the locking member 176 stays with therivet 156, but pivots about its axis. The distal portion 162 is providedwith an aperture or notchl80 through which the finger-engaging portion178 extends. A spring such as indicated at 182 is provided for yieldablyurging the portion 178 out into engagement with the notch 180. As viewedin FIG. 11, when this finger-engaging portion 178 is pushed inwardly outof engagement with the notch 180, the connector member can be moved fromits inner position to its outer position. It will be appreciated thatthis locking arrangement will work also to hold the connector member 158in its position shown in FIG. 9. That is, the connector member 158cannot be pivoted downwardly from its position shown in FIG. 9 until theconnector member is shifted to its outer position in the direction ofelongation of the slots 164. This shifting cannot take place until theportion 178 is pushed inwardly out of engagement with the notch 180.

It will be appreciated that other forms of locking arrangements may beused for locking each hand-grip portion 146, 148 in its lower or upperposition. Primarily, the objective is to provide a releasable lockingmember which will hold the connector member 158 either in its positionshown in FIG. 9 or its position shown in FIG. 11, i.e., the positionwith the rivet 156 against the right-hand ends of the elongated slots164. One alternative locking arrangement which has been effective is toprovide a locking member which pivots about a fixed axis on theconnector member 158 and which engages and hooks over the rivet 156 whenthe connector member is in its inner position. i.e., when the rivet isagainst the right-hand ends of the slots 164. This alternative lockingarrangement is, therefore, merely a releasable hook means for engagingthe rivet 156 and preventing the connector member from movingrectilinearly away from the rivet. The hook means may also include afinger engaging portion such as the portion 178 which extends throughthe aperture 180.

One significant advantage of the embodiment is that the handlebars canbe completely assembled in the factory and subsequently installed on anybicycle having a conventional handlebar clamp. The connector means 150,152 are small enough in diameter to pass through such a clamp.

It will be appreciated that the handlebars of the present invention areconstructed such that one hand-grip portion at a time may be moved sothat at least one of the rider's hands will always be available foractuating the brake.

What is claimed is:

1. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle comprising a central main bodyportion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said mainbody portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said mainbody portion for movement between a high-speed running position and alow speed resting position, and manually-operable means for releasablylocking each said connecting means securely to hold its associatedhand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions,said connecting means including a first connector member at the adjacentend of said main body portion and a second connector member fixed tosaid hand-grip portion, said second connector member being engaged withand connected to the adjacent first connector member for generallyrectilinear movement only relative to said first connector memberbetween an inner position and an outer position, and pivot means forconnecting said second connector member to said first connector memberfor pivotal movement, when said second connector member is in said outerposition, between a lower position corresponding to said runningposition and an upper position corresponding to said resting position,said pivotal movement being about an axis extending forwardly in thedirection of movement of said bicycle, said connector members beingdisengaged to permit such pivotal movement when said second connectormember is in said outer position.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said first connector members areprovided by the opposite end portions of said main body portion, saidend portions being sleeve-like telescopically to receive theirassociated second connector members.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which each said sleeve portion isprovided with diametrically opposite axially extending slots in its end,the associated second connector member extending through said slots assaid member pivots from its lower position to its upper position.

4. Adjustable handlebars comprising a central main body portion,hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said main bodyportion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main bodyportion.

for movement from a lower position to an upper position, andhand-operated means for releasably locking each said connecting meanssecurely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively it itslower and upper positions, said central main body portion providing, ateach of its ends, a sleeve-like portion providing a first connectormember, each said connecting means including a second connector memberfixed to said hand-grip portion, said second connector member beingtelescopically disposed in the adjacent first connector member forrectilinear shifting movement by hand between an inner position and anouter position, and pivot means connecting said second connector memberto said first connector member for pivotal movement, when said secondconnector member is in said outer position, between said lower positionand said upper position, said pivotal movement being about an axisperpendicular to the direction of said rectilinear movement.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which each said second connector memberis provided with a slot elongated in the direction of such shiftingmovement, each said pivot means including a pivot pin carried by itsassociated first connector member to extend through said slot, theextent of such shifting movement being determined by the length of saidslot.

6. The invention ofclaim 4 in which said first connector member of eachconnecting means is provided with diametrically opposite axiallyextending upper and lower slots in its outer end, the associated secondconnector member extending through said slots as said member pivots fromits lower position to its upper position.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which each said second connector memberis provided with a slot elongated in the direction of such shiftingmovement, each said pivot means including a pivot pin carried by itsassociated first connector member to extend through said slot, theextent of such shifting movement being determined by the length of saidslot.

8. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle, said handlebars comprising acentral main body portion, handgrip portions respectively at oppositeends of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-gripportion to said main body portion for pivotal movement from a lowerposition to an upper position, and means for releasably locking eachsaid hand-grip portion alternatively in its lower and upper positions,said locking means being manually operable by the rider of such abicycle while riding, said main body portion pro viding, at each of itsends, a sleeve, each said connecting means including a connector memberfixed to the adjacent hand-grip portion, said connector member beingreciprocably received in the adjacent sleeve for shifting movementbetween an inner position and an outer position, said connector memberbeing provided with an elongated slot, and a pivot pin carried by saidsleeve to extend through said slot, the extent of such shifting movementbeing determined by the length of said slot, said sleeve and saidconnector member being proportioned and designed such that saidconnector member is pivotally movable about said pin only in its saidouter position.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which the outer end of said sleeve isprovided with upper and lower axially inwardly extending slots, saidsecond connector member being proportioned such that, when it is in itssaid outer position, its axially inner end is outwardly from the innerend of said lower slot and movable through said lower slot as saidconnector member pivots into said upper slot.

10. The invention of claim 9 in which said locking means includes meansfor preventing said connector member from moving from its inner positionto its outer position.

11. The invention of claim 8 in which said locking means includes meansfor preventing said connector member from moving from its inner positionto its outer position.

12. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle, said handlebars comprising acentral main body portion providing opposite end portions, hand-gripportions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, aconnector member fixed to each hand-grip portion, means for connectingeach said connector member to the adjacent opposite end portion forgenerally rectilinear shifting movement relative to said end portionbetween an inner position and an outer position and for pivotalmovement, when said connector member is in said outer position, relativeto said end portion between a lower position and an upper position, saidpivotal movement being about a generally horizontal axis extendingperpendicularly to the direction of such rectilinear shifting movementand generally forwardly in the direction of movement of said bicycle.

13. The invention ofclaim 12 including means for releasably locking eachsaid connector member in its said inner position, said locking meansbeing manually releasable by the rider of such a bicycle while riding.

14. The invention of claim 12 in which said opposite end portions aresleeve-like to receive said connector members, each end portion beingprovided with upper and lower axially inwardly extending slots throughwhich its associated connector member extends when pivoted upwardly.

15. The invention of claim 14 in which said associated connector memberis proportioned such that, when it is in its said outer position, itsaxially inner end is disposed outwardly from the inner end of said lowerslot and, when it is in its said inner position, its axially inner endis disposed inwardly from the inner end of said lower slot.

16. The invention of claim 15 in which said associated connector memberis disposed against the axially inner ends of said upper and lower slotswhen said connector member is in its inner position and its said upperposition.

1. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle comprising a central main bodyportion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said mainbody portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said mainbody portion for movement between a highspeed running position and a lowspeed resting position, and manually-operable means for releasablylocking each said connecting means securely to hold its associatedhand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions,said connecting means including a first connector member at the adjacentend of said main body portion and a second connector member fixed tosaid hand-grip portion, said second connector member being engaged withand connected to the adjacent first connector member for generallyrectilinear movement only relative to said first connector memberbetween an inner position and an outer position, and pivot means forconnecting said second connector member to said first connector memberfor pivotal movement, when said second connector member is in said outerposition, between a lower position corresponding to said runningposition and an upper position corresponding to said resting position,said pivotal movement being about an axis extending fOrwardly in thedirection of movement of said bicycle, said connector members beingdisengaged to permit such pivotal movement when said second connectormember is in said outer position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in whichsaid first connector members are provided by the opposite end portionsof said main body portion, said end portions being sleeve-liketelescopically to receive their associated second connector members. 3.The invention of claim 2 in which each said sleeve portion is providedwith diametrically opposite axially extending slots in its end, theassociated second connector member extending through said slots as saidmember pivots from its lower position to its upper position. 4.Adjustable handlebars comprising a central main body portion, hand-gripportions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, meansfor connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion formovement from a lower position to an upper position, and hand-operatedmeans for releasably locking each said connecting means securely to holdits associated hand-grip portion alternatively it its lower and upperpositions, said central main body portion providing, at each of itsends, a sleeve-like portion providing a first connector member, eachsaid connecting means including a second connector member fixed to saidhand-grip portion, said second connector member being telescopicallydisposed in the adjacent first connector member for rectilinear shiftingmovement by hand between an inner position and an outer position, andpivot means connecting said second connector member to said firstconnector member for pivotal movement, when said second connector memberis in said outer position, between said lower position and said upperposition, said pivotal movement being about an axis perpendicular to thedirection of said rectilinear movement.
 5. The invention of claim 4 inwhich each said second connector member is provided with a slotelongated in the direction of such shifting movement, each said pivotmeans including a pivot pin carried by its associated first connectormember to extend through said slot, the extent of such shifting movementbeing determined by the length of said slot.
 6. The invention of claim 4in which said first connector member of each connecting means isprovided with diametrically opposite axially extending upper and lowerslots in its outer end, the associated second connector member extendingthrough said slots as said member pivots from its lower position to itsupper position.
 7. The invention of claim 6 in which each said secondconnector member is provided with a slot elongated in the direction ofsuch shifting movement, each said pivot means including a pivot pincarried by its associated first connector member to extend through saidslot, the extent of such shifting movement being determined by thelength of said slot.
 8. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle, saidhandlebars comprising a central main body portion, handgrip portionsrespectively at opposite ends of said main body portion, means forconnecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion for pivotalmovement from a lower position to an upper position, and means forreleasably locking each said hand-grip portion alternatively in itslower and upper positions, said locking means being manually operable bythe rider of such a bicycle while riding, said main body portionproviding, at each of its ends, a sleeve, each said connecting meansincluding a connector member fixed to the adjacent hand-grip portion,said connector member being reciprocably received in the adjacent sleevefor shifting movement between an inner position and an outer position,said connector member being provided with an elongated slot, and a pivotpin carried by said sleeve to extend through said slot, the extent ofsuch shifting movement being determined by the length of said slot, saidsleeve and said connector member being proportioned and designed suchthat said connector member is pivotally movable about said pin only inits said outer position.
 9. The invention of claim 8 in which the outerend of said sleeve is provided with upper and lower axially inwardlyextending slots, said second connector member being proportioned suchthat, when it is in its said outer position, its axially inner end isoutwardly from the inner end of said lower slot and movable through saidlower slot as said connector member pivots into said upper slot.
 10. Theinvention of claim 9 in which said locking means includes means forpreventing said connector member from moving from its inner position toits outer position.
 11. The invention of claim 8 in which said lockingmeans includes means for preventing said connector member from movingfrom its inner position to its outer position.
 12. Adjustable handlebarsfor a bicycle, said handlebars comprising a central main body portionproviding opposite end portions, hand-grip portions respectively atopposite sides of said main body portion, a connector member fixed toeach hand-grip portion, means for connecting each said connector memberto the adjacent opposite end portion for generally rectilinear shiftingmovement relative to said end portion between an inner position and anouter position and for pivotal movement, when said connector member isin said outer position, relative to said end portion between a lowerposition and an upper position, said pivotal movement being about agenerally horizontal axis extending perpendicularly to the direction ofsuch rectilinear shifting movement and generally forwardly in thedirection of movement of said bicycle.
 13. The invention of claim 12including means for releasably locking each said connector member in itssaid inner position, said locking means being manually releasable by therider of such a bicycle while riding.
 14. The invention of claim 12 inwhich said opposite end portions are sleeve-like to receive saidconnector members, each end portion being provided with upper and loweraxially inwardly extending slots through which its associated connectormember extends when pivoted upwardly.
 15. The invention of claim 14 inwhich said associated connector member is proportioned such that, whenit is in its said outer position, its axially inner end is disposedoutwardly from the inner end of said lower slot and, when it is in itssaid inner position, its axially inner end is disposed inwardly from theinner end of said lower slot.
 16. The invention of claim 15 in whichsaid associated connector member is disposed against the axially innerends of said upper and lower slots when said connector member is in itsinner position and its said upper position.